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Fight for Senator Fran Pavley's SB 797 gaining momentum
 LOS ANGELES, CA - Mothers from throughout Los Angeles crowded onto the playground at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center Wednesday to discard toxic baby bottles and swap them for new, Bisphenol-A free baby bottles donated by L.A.- based Green to Grow. The toxic baby bottle swap was sponsored by State Senator Fran Pavley, D-Santa Monica, Black Women for Wellness, Physicians for Social Responsibility, The Breast Cancer Fund, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, The Help Group for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Environmental Working Group, and Green to Grow. Speakers included: world-renowned pediatrician and author Dr. Harvey Karp, “The Happiest Baby on the Block”, actress and environmental advocate Amy Smart, and Dr. Linda Tigner-Weeks, Chief Medical Officer for St. John’s Well Child and Family Center.
Most baby bottles contain the toxic chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) which has been linked to early puberty, obesity, breast cancer and neurological and behavioral changes including autism and hyperactivity. Senator Pavley’s SB 797 would ban BPA in food and beverage containers designed for children 3 years and younger.
“This is a David and Goliath fight between babies and the powerful chemical industry,” said Senator Pavley. “We hope parents here today will not only take home a toxin free bottle to their children, we hope they will also take the message to California lawmakers that they should put the health and future of our children before special interests.
Dr. Harvey Karp, world renowned pediatrician and the author of “The Happiest Baby on the Block” said he is very concerned about the health hazard posed by BPA. “No parent willingly feeds their baby BPA,” said Dr. Karp. “Yet bits of this unwanted, hormone-twisting compound sneak into their bodies with every swallow of canned infant formula or swig from a BPA-laden plastic baby bottle.”
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an artificial hormone that is widely used in shatter-proof plastic baby bottles, sippy cups and the lining of formula cans. It leaches out of containers and into food and drink consumed by babies and young children.
More than 200 peer-reviewed studies have linked BPA to a host of health problems, including breast and prostrate cancer, infertility, obesity, and neurological and behavioral changes, including autism and hyperactivity.
BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical and it acts like an estrogen in the body. Its repeated ingestion is the equivalent of giving babies daily low-level doses of birth control pills. Because babies are growing and developing, their bodies, brains and organs are particularly susceptible to hormone disruption; they also cannot dispel harmful chemicals as well as adults.
SB 797, authored by Senator Fran Pavley, D–Santa Monica, would ban the use of BPA in food and drink containers for children three years and younger. A final vote on the bill is expected to take place in the next few weeks.
“The science on BPA clearly demonstrates cause for alarm,” said Senator Pavley. “We can’t ignore the facts when it comes to our most vulnerable citizens; we have to act now to get this toxin out of children’s food and drink.”
Green to Grow, a Los Angeles-based, family-owned company donated 1,000 BPA-free baby bottles for the event. “We know baby bottles can be made without BPA. Look at these great Green to Grow bottles,” said actress and environmental advocate Amy Smart. “This bill will mean that every child in California, regardless of where she lives or where her parents can afford to shop can be protected from exposure to this toxic chemical.”
 Dera Baskin of Los Angeles is the mother of a 3-year-old boy. She recently traveled to Sacramento to speak in support of SB 797 and spoke at Wednesday’s toxic bottle swap. “I care deeply about the heath and safety of my son,” said Baskin. “I have grave concerns that many mothers, especially in low income neighborhoods, don’t have the information about BPA. If they knew BPA was in their baby’s bottle they would never use it. This is dangerous, it’s scary.”
Baskin volunteers for Black Women for Wellness, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles. As a peer educator, Baskin works with young mothers to make healthy and economical decisions about nutrition. “As a mom, I want to help other moms learn that some products can be really dangerous to our kids,” she said. “I think BPA should be banned from baby bottles it just doesn’t make sense.”
The powerful chemical industry has mounted an all out assault against this bill. Highly paid lobbyists for popular formula companies are trying to kill SB 797 by telling lawmakers in the Assembly that alternative products aren’t available and a ban on BPA would cause a formula shortage. Yet, at the same time these companies are marketing a variety of formula and food containers to parents as “BPA free.”
“BPA-free bottles and formula cans shouldn’t be optional for producers,” said Baskin. “We want the best for our babies. I look around my community and when I’m at the bargain store there are no BPA-free bottles; that’s not fair.”
“BPA substitutes are available today so there is no reason to use BPA in baby products,” said Dr. Karp.
Consumer outrage over the food industry's continued use of the chemical has created a backlash that is spreading nationally and internationally. Minnesota became the first state in the nation to ban BPA from baby bottles, and Connecticut has since enacted a ban as well. At least 21 other states and municipalities have either recently passed laws or have bills pending to restrict the use of BPA. Public health officials in Massachusetts are warning parents of young children to avoid BPA. U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein is pursuing legislation on the federal level. Canada has banned the chemical from baby bottles.
“California has always been a leader on environmental and health issues, but we are already behind other states and countries that have banned BPA from children’s products,” said Senator Pavley. “Let’s get this dangerous chemical out of our children’s food and drink.”
Many LA-area lawmakers have not yet committed to supporting SB 797 on the Assembly Floor. Senator Pavley and the other speakers at Wednesday’s event are asking the public to contact their Assembly member and urge him/her to protect our children from harm by voting yes on SB 797 on the Assembly Floor.
“I ask our esteemed Assembly members: What more important investment can we make than in the healthy future of our next generation?” said Smart. “Let’s continue California’s proud history of leading the nation. Vote yes on SB 797.”
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